Houses in Orlagh Wood and Grove are aptly named: the area is alive with trees of every kind, lining roads, edging gardens and vigorously surrounding the large green space in front of 35 Orlagh Wood where, the vendor says, her children played in safety growing up and which continues to be enjoyed by the coming generation. With fhe family grown, the vendors are downsizing in the area.
At the foothills of the Dublin mountains, the Orlagh Wood houses were built in 1992. Vendors Michelle and Kevin bought number 35 that same year for under IR£100,000, “a big stretch at the time”.
They’ve put a lot of work into number 35 but without, Michelle says, “changing the footprint. We knocked down walls to make an open plan kitchen/family/dining room to the rear and put a main bedroom suite over the playroom and utility area.”
Kevin’s building company, KS Construction, did the work and the result is a large, bright living space to the rear. It has velux windows and French windows, stone coloured ceramic tiling, a wood- burning stove, dining alcove reaching into the garden and bespoke working kitchen to warm the heart of any cook. “I like to cook,” Michelle says, “And knew what I wanted.”
Elsewhere, over a 155sq m (1,668sq ft) floor space, there are four bedrooms (two en suite), two reception rooms, family bathroom and utility.
A block-built shed to the rear could become a workshop or office. Agent Sherry FitzGerald is asking €625,000 for the private treaty sale.
A front sitting room has views of the commonage, as does a playroom with timber floor. The utility room is cleverly built into the side passage.
It’s hard to believe today’s main, L-shaped bedroom was once the box room. Large, peacefully front facing, it has two windows, was built over the utility room and playroom, has a dressing area and separate en suite. The other three bedrooms have built-in wardrobes, the family bathroom is finished in travertine tiles.
The rear garden, made private by high, bamboo and creeper-clad walls, has low-maintenance decking.
The front, walled garden has a driveway for parking.